Liner hanger



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May 21, 1940. K FORD 2,201,433

LINER HANGER Filed Jan. 16, 1939 Patented May 21, 1940 LINER HANGER- Keith Ford, Long Beach, Calif., assignor, by dimet and mesne assignments, of two-thirds to E. E. Hall, Los Angeles, Calif., and A. L. Armentrout, Long Beach, Calif., and one-third to V. P. Baker, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application January 16, 1939, Serial No. 251,055

1 Claim.

This invention relates to apparatus for use in wells and relates more particularly to a liner hanger for supporting or suspendinga liner in a Well. A general object of this invention is to provide a practical efiective liner hanger that may be easily and successfully employed in situations where the conventional liner hangers are not operative or difficult to operate.

In conditioning an oil well for production it is the usual practice to arrange a tubular perforate liner in the producing zone to pre vent caving, etc. A tool known as a liner hangeris employed to hang or suspend the liner in position in the well. The liner hanger is rigidly secured-to the upper end of the liner and usually embodies slips for gripping the interior of the well casing and a tail-piece control for the slips having a latch means for governing the release and actuation of the slips. The latch means for controlling the hanger isusually releasable .by rotation or turning movement of the entire liner and liner hanger. The assembly of the liner and the liner hanger is lowered into the well on a setting string and the string is rotated and manipulated to release the latch of the tailpiece and to set the slips of the hanger, whereupon the setting string is disconnected from the hanger and withdrawn from the well. In many nstances the well bore is excessively inclined or crooked so that the liner binds on the wall of the well and is prevented from turning. Under such conditions it is difficult, if not impossible, to

turn the setting string to effect the release of the latch means to condition the hanger for operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a liner hanger that may be easily and quickly op-' erated and set when the liner isnon-rotatable by reason of the contour of the well.

Another object of this invention is to provide 3. liner hanger that may be conditioned and operated by any suitable setting tool, or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide a liner hanger of the character mentioned that does not necessitate special or complicated manipulation of the setting string.

A further object of this invention is to provide a liner hanger of the character mentioned that is strong and dependable and that is simple and easy to manufacture and install on the liner.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical preferred form and application of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawing, in which: I

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of a typical well showing the apparatus or equipment of the present invention in elevation prior to the setting or actuating of the liner.

Fig. '2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating the condition of the parts immediately following the actuation of the liner hanger and showing certain parts in longitudinal cross section, and Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal detailed sectional view of the swivel connection between the liner and the liner hanger. 1

The liner hanger of the present invention ma be employed on liners of. various natures and may be used in conjunction with setting tcols of v scope of the claim.

The equipment or apparatus of the invention illustrated in the drawing may be said to comprise, generally, a liner L, a hanger H conditioned or released for operation by turning movement, a swivel joint or connection between the hanger H and liner L and a setting tool T at the upper end of the hanger.

The liner L is an elongate perforated member or assembly adapted to be installed in the open producing portion of the well W to act as a screen. As the present invention is not primarily concerned with the details of the liner L, I have illustrated only the upper portion of the liner. It is to be understood that the liner L may be of substantial length and may embody a plurality of connected tubular sections. As illustrated, the liner L has perforations I0 for admitting the well fluid. The perforations Ill may be in the nature of slots.- A suitable coupling or collar I I may be threaded on the upper end of the liner L.

The liner hanger H is provided to engage or grip the interior of the well casing I2 and is aperable to suspend the liner L from the casing I2. The hanger H includes an elongate tubular body I3 and a sleeve I4 shiftable longitudinally on the body. The lower portion of the sleeve I4 is tapered, being in the nature of a cone I5. A set of slips I6 is engaged about the-cone I5 and is adapted to be actuated by the cone to grip the interior of the casing C. The outer sides of the slips I 6 are toothed to have effective gripping engagement with the interior of the casing I2. When the slips I6 are in their un-actuated positions illustrated in Fig. 1 they are clear of the casing l2. Packing rings II may surround the hanger body I3 above the sleeve I4. The lower 2 packing ring Il may engage against the upper end of the sleeve I4. The upper packing ring I! tool T as will be hereinafter described. The packing rings I! are adapted to be compressed to seal between the hanger body l3 and the internal surface of the well casing 2.

The liner hanger H includes a control for governing the release and actuation of the slips l6. This control includes spaced rings l9 surrounding and freely shiftable on the body |3 below the cone l5. Circumferentially spaced leaf springs 20 extend between and connect the spaced rings l9. The springs 20 are bowed outwardly to have frictional engagement with the interior of the well casing l2. Flexible resilient reins 2| are attached to the lower ends of theslips l6 and have their lower ends secured to the uppermost ring Hi to connect the slips IS with the spring and ring assembly |9--2|l. The engagement of the springs 20 with the casing I2 is operable to resist vertical movement of the slips I6 I whereby downward movement of the hanger body l3 may cause the cone l5 to expand the slips into gripping engagement with the casing l2.

The control for the slips l6 further includes latch means for releasably connecting the assembly of the slips l6, the rings-19 and the springs 20 with the body |3 to prevent relative movement between the assembly and the body when the liner L is run into the well. The latch means includes one or more hook-like latches 22 on one of the rings I9. In thesimple case il-.

lustrated there is a latch 22 depending from the upper ring IS. The latch 22 is cooperable with a radially projecting pin 23 on the body l3. The engagement of the latch 22 with the pin 23 serves to prevent relative vertical movement between the body I3 and the assembly of the rings IS, the springs 20 and the slips I6. The latch 22 is such that the pin- 23 is releasable from the latch by turning of the body l3 relative to the assembly of the rings IS, the springs 20 and the slips I6. Following the release of the pin 23 from the latch 22 the body 23 is free tomove downwardly with respect to the assembly of the rings IS, the springs 20 andthe slips Btoefiect the actuation of the slips. It is to be observed that the control for the. slips l6 can be released only by relative turning between the body I3 and the assembly of the rings IS, the springs 20 and the slips IS.

The swivel joint or connection C serves to connect the body l3 with the liner L and is such that it permits turning of the body I3 relative to the liner L to release the pin 23 from the latch 22 in situations where the liner L is prevented from turning. The swivel connection C may be varied considerably in character without departing from the broader aspects of the invention. In the structure illustrated the connection C includes two sections, namely, an upper section 24 and a lower section 25. The upper section 24 is connected with the hanger body [3. In the simple construction illustrated the section 24 is threaded on the lower end of the body l3. The lower portion 24 of the section 24 is reduced in external diameter providing the section with a downwardly facing annular shoulder 26. The lower section 25 of the connection C is connected with the upper end of the liner L. In. the drawing the section. 25 is shown threaded in the collar II on the upper end of the liner L. A socket 21 is provided in the upper end of the section 25 to receive the portion 24 of the section 24. The section portion 24 is freely rotatable in the socket 21. The connection sections 24 and 25 are tubular and the passage 28 through the sections is preferably of the same fluid capacity as the longitudinal opening 29 in the body l3 and the passage through the tubular liner L. Y

The sections 24 and 25 of the connection C are connected for relative rotation. In the form -of the invention illustrated an annular ball groove or race 36 is provided in the exterior of the portion 24 and an opposing or registering race 3| is formed in the wall of the socket 21. Balls 32 are arranged in the races 3|] and 3| to connect the sections 24 and 25 against relative longitudinal movement and disconnection. The balls'32 in the races and 3| allow free relative turning between the sections 24 and 25. A radial opening 33 may be provided in the wall of the section 25 to admit the balls 32 to the races 3|! and 3| when the connection C is assembled. A plug 34 may normally close the opening 33.

Packing means is provided to prevent the leakage of fluid from the connection C. Opposing an nular grooves 35 are provided in the lower end of the section 24 and the bottom wall of the socket 21 and a body or ring 36 of packing is received in the grooves 35. The packing ring 36 is efl'ective in preventing the escape or passage of fluid between the sections 24 and 25. The packing means may further include a body or ring of packing 31 set in opposing annular grooves 38 in the shoulder 26 and the upper end of the section 25. The packing ring 31 prevents foreign matter from entering the connection C and assists in preventing the leakage of fluid from the connection. The packing rings 36 and 31 are preferably formed of a material that is resistant tothe action of the fluids in the well.

The invention may include means for initially or normally connecting the sections 24 and 25 of the swivel connection C against relative turning so that .the liner L is non-rotatabiy connected with the hanger H when the equipment is run into the well. This means for connecting the sections 24 and 25 against relative turning is releasable or frangible and may be released or broken when the equipment is in the well W so that the body l3 may be turned with respect to the liner L to effect the release of the pin 23 from the latch 22 when the liner L is caught or held against rotation. The means for connecting the sections 24 and 25 against relative rotation may comprise a shear pin 39 set in a radial opening 40 in the wall of the section 25 and extending into a socket 4| in the portion 24". The shear pin 39 is designed to fail when subjected to a known or given shear strain.

The setting tool T is provided to releasably connect a setting string (not shown) with the hanger H to facilitate the lowering of the hanger H and liner L into the well W, the settling or actuation of the hanger H and the removal of the hanger H and theliner L from the well. The setting tool T includes the adapter I 8 mentioned above. The adapter I8 is threaded on the upper end of the hanger body 3 and its lower end engages the upper packing ring H. The adapter I8 is an elongate tubular member open at its opposite ends. Diametrically opposite reclining T grooves or J grooves 43 areprovided in the internal wall of the adapter la. The main parts or arms of the grooves 43 are substantially vertical and extend to the upper end of the adapter l8. The grooves 43 are provided at their lower ends with lateral portions 44 and vertical branches 45 extending upwardly and downwardly from the lateral portions 44. The setting. tool T further includes a mandrel 46 connected with the lower end of the setting string (not shown). The

- mandrel 46 is designed to enter the upper end 7 of the adapter i8. Diametrically opposite lugs adapter is. is secured to .the upper end of the hanger body I3. The mandrel 46 is connected permit the detachment of the mandrel from the adapter i8 and the setting string from the mandrel, the hanger H and the liner L.

When the liner L is to be installed in the well W it is connected with the body i3 of the hanger H by the connection C and the setting tool with the adapter it by the engagement of the lugs 37 in the grooves 43 and the assembly is lowered into'the wellW on the lower end of the setting string (not shown). 'The assembly may.

be lowered until the liner L reaches the correct or selected position. The setting string (not shown) is then given a partial turn to release the pin 23 from the latch 22. The springs 20 frictionally engaging the interior of the casing I2 hold the rings i9 and the slips i3 against turning so that the turning of the body l3 may release the pin 23 from the latch 22. In the event that the well bore is excessively crooked the liner L may be engaged in the well in such a manner that it is non-rotatable. If this is the case it will be found diflicult, if not impossible, to turn the setting string and liner L to effect the release 7 of the pin 23from the latch 22. If it is found that the latch pin 23 cannot be released from the latch 22 in the manner just described a substantial turning force is appliedto the setting string (not shown) to shear or break the pin 39. It will be seen that the shear pin 39 serves to transmit turning forces from the hanger body l3 to the I liner L and when a substantial turning force is imposed on thelbody l3 through the medium of the setting string and the tool T the pin 39 is sheared off or broken. Following the breaking of the pin 33 the setting string (not shown) may be given a partial rotation in the correct direction to disengage the pin 23 from the latch 22.' At

this time the body i3 is free to turn with respect to the liner L by reason of the swivel connection C and the caught or non-rotatable liner L does not interfere with the turning of the .body l3 and the release of the'pin 23 from the latch 22.v

Following the release of the pin 23 from-the latch 22 the setting string (not shown) may be lowered or allowed to settle so that the body l3 moves downwardly with respect to the slips l6. As described above the springs 20 engaging the liner L serve to resist downward movement of the slips l6 and the cone l5 moving downwardly with the body l3 expands or actuates the slips dium of the adapter I! and the packing rings i1 and the-slips i3 gripping the casing I2 and engaging about the cone l5 suspends the liner from the casing i2. The weight of the liner L and associated parts transmitted through the packing rings ll expands the rings into tight given rotational strain when the sealing engagement with the interior of the casing l2 and holds the rings into effective sealing engagement with the body 13. Subsequent to the release and actuation of the slips I3 the setting string (not shown) may be manipulated to free the lugs 41 from the grooves 43 whereupon 'the mandrel 4.6 may be withdrawn from the adapter I8 and the setting string may be withdrawn from the well.

After a period of production of the well W it may be desirable or necessary to withdraw the liner L from the well W for replacement or repair.- A well string carrying an adapter 46, is

lowered into the well Wand manipulated to enter the lugs 41! in the grooves 43'and to bring .the' lugs into the groove branches 45. i The said string may then be raised to raise the body i3 and the liner L. Upward movement of the body l3 removes the weight of the liner L and associated parts from the slips i3 and theslip's are free to retract from the casing I2. If desired or believed necessary 'the string (not shown) and the mandrel 46 may be turned to turn the body I3 and engage the pin 23'with the latch 22 to latch the slips it in their retracted positions so that the equipment may beQwithdrawn from the well without danger of the slips binding in the casing l2. In this connection it is to be observed that the swivel connection C allows free turning of the body i3 tore-engage the latch pin 23 with the latch 22 even though the liner L may be caught or sanded in the well W. Subsequent to the release or retraction of the slips Ii as above described the equipment maybe withdrawn from the well W on the operating or removal string (not shown).

It will be noted that the present'invention provides a liner hanger that is designed to permit the free easy release and control of the slips IS in situations where the liner L may. be non-rotatable due to the contour'of the well. The swivel connection C provides for free turning of the hanger body IS with respect to the liner and and application of my invention I do not wish I to be limited or restricted to the specific formand application herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself anyj'variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claim.

*Having described my invention, I claim: p

A hanger for suspending a liner in a well comprising a body having a .cone, slips operableoutwardly by the cone to grip the wall of the-well, means holding the. slips against operation releasable by turning of the body. means rotatably connecting the lower end of thebody with the liner so that the body may be freely turned relative to the liner to release the first named means in the event the liner is non-rotatable in the well, and frangible means associated withthe last mentioned means preventing relative rotation between the body and-liner so that the liner mayturn with the body when they liner is free for such turning and adapted to 'failunder a liner is non-rotatable in the well. v v 

